Welcome to the archive page of the official blog of Robert Stanek. Robert Stanek is the
author of more than 100 books and is best known for his Ruin Mist novels.
This archive page is for May 2007 to July 2005. You can browse the blog by
following these links:

I've always tried to
keep this blog positive and upbeat, but I can no longer sit quietly while a
group of individuals seeks to ruin my reputation and that of my publisher,
Reagent Press. As loyal readers know, I am the award-winning, international,
best-selling author of 70 books for young people and adults. I've been at
this thing called writing since 1980; a published, award-winning author
since 1991 when I won the George Washington Honor medal from the Freedom
Foundation; and a bestselling author since 1995 when a little book I wrote
called Electronic Publishing Unleashed "defined electronic and digital
publishing for a generation of readers." I am one of the original digital
publishing pioneers and I remain a strong proponent of digital publishing. I
am a Gulf War veteran and the recipient of 29 medals during my 11 years of
honorable military service. I received the Distinguished Flying Cross, the
Humanitarian Service Medal, the Air Medal, and several other medals for my
service in the Gulf War. For me, the words Honor, Duty, and Country have
profound meaning. I served in the Gulf War because my country asked me to
and because it was my duty to do so. I have supported the communities I've
lived in all my life and frequently donated to schools, libraries, and
community events.

The individuals who are
trying to ruin my reputation have been spreading malicious, untrue rumors
about me for the past five years. For the last few years, they've been doing
the same to my publisher. As someone who has given all his life to his
country and his community, I simply do not understand this continued and
prolonged harassment of me personally. Not liking a book is one thing,
reaching into every corner of cyberspace to spread malicious, untrue rumors
is something else entirely.

To build word of
mouth prior to the launch of my Ruin Mist books, my publisher gave away many
thousands of copies of the books and launched major advertising campaigns
including showings at dozens of book shows around the world, appearances in
bookstore/library publications/events, and more. This created tremendous
positive interest that was ruined by individuals who had no right to do so.
Five years later these individuals are still at it.

I am asking members
of the book community to help stop these activities, which appear to be hate
crimes against a person who has never professed his politics, religious
beliefs, or war stance. There is enough intolerance in the world; there does
not need to be such intolerance in the book community. For those who have
been a part of these activities, if I've misunderstood your intent, write to
me and let me know so. I am not afraid to make a correction to statements
that I've determined to be false. I would ask the same of you as well.

Thank you for reading. God bless
and take care,

Robert Stanek

November 2006

Dear Readers,

Huge thank you to the
dedicated fans who continue to read my books and tell others about them. I
must apologize for being so jammed up this past year that I haven't had time
to keep up with this blog. I forget sometimes that there are readers who
don't subscribe to the newsletter that I've faithfully published every 3
months for many years. I hope to remedy this by either reopening
subscription or making the newsletter available as a part of this web site.
For those who may be wondering, the newsletter began in 1996 and has been
published quarterly ever since. Back then, I was writing primarily Web
design and Web publishing articles and books. Because of this, many of its
long-time subscribers want to hear about computers, technologies, and such.
So if I am to reopen subscription or make the newsletter available as a part
of this web site, there must be an understanding between us and it is this:
the newsletter isn't just about my fiction writing. The newsletter has
covered and will continue to cover all my areas of interest: computers,
technology, nonfiction, fiction, and web stuff. The newsletter will continue
to have a regular “Strange Web Stuff” column. The newsletter will continue
to have “What I'm Reading” and/or “Authors You Should Get to Know” columns
that cover books from my favorite authors as well as new and upcoming
authors. The authors I discuss may not necessarily be fiction authors. The
authors may not necessarily be ones you've heard of, and that is sometimes
the point. It may seem I have a preference for small press authors because I
do and my discussion of an author, as always, is not necessarily meant as
literary review or critique. Of course, these columns often gush with praise
because I'm not discussing authors I don't like—I'm discussing authors whose
work I like and/or authors whose work you may like. Issue #45 will come out
in January.

I thank you for the
many letters and emails, and apologize for not being able to answer every
one of them personally. I want to thank the many teachers, librarians, and
parents across the U.S. and around the world who have embraced my books and
made them so successful. The little book that could—and did—is still going.
I couldn't have done it without all the dedicated fans. You make all the
difference, thank you. In letters and emails, the question I'm asked the
most is about the upcoming Ruin Mist books and when they will be published.
I'm sorry to say I don't know the dates yet. The title of the series for
adults, as fans have already discovered, is called Ruin Mist: The Lost Ages.
The other questions I get the most are about specific characters. For
readers who want to know if Myrial and Emel will be back, I can say both
Myrial and Emel will be back, but things have been rough what with a great
war sweeping the kingdoms and all, so they may have changed somewhat from
the Myrial and Emel you've grown to love. The hints I offer are these: Myrial is ever a survivor as her dark encounter with the housemaster should
have shown you, and Emel went on a journey in search of something and may
find more than he bargains for. For readers who want to know about Edward
and Eldrick, I can say you haven't seen the last of Eldrick but alas, I can
do nothing for Edward whom we all miss terribly.

For the many readers
who want to know more about when my books are coming to their country, I
have some great news. Three new translations: Korean, Russian, and
Bulgarian. Thanks to one of my most dedicated fans, I have copies of the
Bulgarian covers to share and a copy of a promo page.

Thank you for an amazing 2005 and for helping to take The Kingdoms and the
Elves of the Reaches all the way to #1. Teachers, librarians, and parents
across the U.S. and around the world have embraced the book so much that it
is becoming known as "the little book that could—and did." Like the little
engine that could—and did—The Kingdoms and the Elves of the Reaches has
carried on year after year with steady sales to become one of the most
successful books ever produced by an independent small publisher. I couldn't
have done it without all the dedicated fans.

An
update on the Blue Ribbon award for my audio books—this is no longer a
maybe. My audio books have won multiple awards, which will be announced in
2006. Keep your fingers crossed for the 2006 Grammy awards and 2006 Audie
awards, which appear to be sure things.

To
the dozens of fans writing to me about Hayao Miyazaki directing an animated
version of The Kingdoms and the Elves of the Reaches. This is speculation
and absolutely not true. No director has been selected for Into the Beyond.

Lastly, I hope you'll say a prayer for me as I begin chemo. A 30% chance is
better than zero.

Thank you for reading and believing. God bless and take
care,

Robert Stanek

October, 2005

Dear
Readers,

Huge
thank you to the dedicated fans who continue to read my books and tell
others about them. Back in early September, I promised fans big news for
October and a few answers too.

For
those wondering about Grammy and Audie news: no Grammy, no nomination. The
Blue Ribbon award as I understand it is for “Audiobook that has made the
biggest impact on audio publishing for the year.”

The
secrets of the praise that appears at the beginning of the Ruin Mist books?
These quotes are from editors at major publishers who read and liked my
books but ultimately decided not to publish them, including Susan Allison,
Betsy Mitchell, and Carolyn Reidy. As far as fiction agents that I have
worked with, they include Richard Curtis and Al Zuckerman.